By SHANNON McCAFFREY and KATE BRUMBACK

Associated Press

ATLANTA — The Georgia Legislature has passed an immigration bill that contains some parts similar to an Arizona law being challenged in court.

Republican Gov. Nathan Deal must sign it to make it law. His office on Thursday would not say if the Republican governor would sign it.

Deal supported tough immigration measures when he was in Congress.

The bill would authorize law enforcement officers to verify the immigration status of certain criminal suspects and allows them to detain those found to be in the country illegally. It would also penalize people who “knowingly and intentionally” transport or harbor illegal immigrants.

It also would require employers with 10 or more employees to use a federal database called E-Verify to check the immigration status of new hires.